49ers / S.F. adds another receiver / Manningham next in position makeover

The 49ers picked up another wide receiver for their yet-to-be-signed starting quarterback Saturday.

As the team awaited word from Peyton Manning on the place of his future employment, it signed former Giants wide receiver Mario Manningham to a two-year contract, according to a league source. Financial terms were not revealed. Earlier in the week, San Francisco signed Randy Moss, 35, to bolster a wide receiving corps in need of an upgrade.

Manningham, who has spent the first four seasons of his career catching passes from Manning’s little brother, Eli, missed four games with a knee injury in 2011 and had 39 catches for 523 yards and four touchdowns. He finished his season with a flourish, however. In four playoff games, he had three touchdowns and a memorable 38-yard sideline catch to jump-start New York’s game-winning drive in its Super Bowl win over the Patriots.

A third-round pick in the 2008 draft, Manningham had his best year in 2010, collecting 60 catches, 944 yards and nine touchdowns.

Last year, Manningham served as the No. 3 wideout behind the prolific tandem of Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks, who combined for 158 catches and 2,728 yards. He will have a chance to play a more prominent role in San Francisco.

Michael Crabtree is the only wideout on the 49ers’ roster who had more than 40 catches last year. It remains to be seen whether Moss can recapture his All-Pro form after sitting out the 2011 season in retirement. At this point, Kyle Williams, who has 21 receptions in two seasons, is the No. 4 wideout.

The addition of Manningham could give Peyton Manning another reason to consider the 49ers. His signing probably increases the chances that free-agent wideout Ted Ginn will leave San Francisco. Ginn, one of the NFL’s top returners, is seeking an expanded role as a wide receiver. After visiting the Lions earlier last week, he visited the Ravens, according to FOXSports.com.